TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- One per year is the norm for Alabama when signing quarterbacks.

That means the pick must be a good one, but it's not always that simple.

With AJ McCarron earning the starting job as a sophomore and locking it down quickly, luring the top passers to Tuscaloosa became a challenge in recent years.

The addition of Jacob Coker from Florida State changes the dynamic of the upcoming battle to replace three-year starter McCarron.

Understanding the path to this point in time means looking back at the recruiting classes of the past. Since arriving in January of 2007, Nick Saban signed nine quarterbacks âÂÂ 10 if you include Blake Sims who was classified as an athlete through his first year at Alabama.

Of that group, four of the first five transferred before graduating. Having just three starters in seven seasons under Saban can make easier to look for playing time elsewhere.

Here's a year-by-year look at the quarterbacks with their recruiting-service rankings among quarterbacks.

2007

Nick Fanuzzi

Nick Fanuzzi

Rivals: No. 18 (dual threat)

247 composite: N/A

Scout: 32

The buzz: Coming to Alabama after throwing and passing for 1,000 yards as a senior at Churchill High in San Antonio, Fanuzzi was a last-minute pickup after Nick Saban was hired a month before signing day.

At Alabama: He played only in his collegiate opener against Western Carolina, but never threw a pass in an Alabama uniform.

How it ended: Transferred to Rice after one year and ended up as the Owls' third-leading passer in school history (4,402 yards). He played last season with the San Antonio Talons of the AFL.

2008

Star Jackson

Star Jackson

Rivals: 5

247 composite: 8

Scout: 11

The buzz: The Lake Worth, Fla., product came to Alabama with All-American status, 4-star ratings, a 6-foot-3 frame and a strong arm. He would sit for a year and compete for the starting job in 2009.

At Alabama: Greg McElroy ultimately won the top job and Jackson was the No. 2 quarterback for Alabama's undefeated, championship season. Jackson completed 13 of 18 passes for 116 yards in his time in Tuscaloosa.

How it ended: After completing spring practice in 2010, Jackson transferred to Georgia State. He didn't win the starting job at the first-year program, played in four games (including very late in a loss in Bryant-Denny Stadium) before leaving the team.

2009

AJ McCarron on signing day.

AJ McCarron

Rivals: 7

247 composite: 7

Scout: 17

The buzz: The Mobile product came to Alabama as the next heir apparent to the quarterback job. He was tall, had a strong arm and a football mind.

At Alabama: A three-year starter from 2011-13, McCarron rewrote the record book while winning two national titles as a first-team player.

How it ended: McCarron graduated as the only of the first five Saban quarterback recruits to finish his eligibility at Alabama.

2010

Phillip Sims

Phillip Sims

Rivals: 2

247 composite: 1

Scout: 2

The buzz: Arriving on campus just as the Tide won the 2009 national title, Sims was the highest rated prospect of the quarterbacks Saban brought to Alabama. His signing set up the competition with McCarron a year later.

At Alabama: The showdown came in the spring/summer/fall 2011 and McCarron eventually won. Sims looked good in the spring game, but after splitting snaps with McCarron in the season opener against Kent State, Sims slipped to the No. job and never got back in the race. He played in eight games, completed 18 of 28 passes for 163 yards and two interceptions.

How it ended: A transfer took him to Virginia where Sims competed again for the starting job in 2012. He threw for 1,263 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions, but ended up transferring to Division II Winston-Salem State after having academic troubles at Virginia.

Blake Sims

Blake Sims

Rivals: 33 (athlete)

247 composite: 18 (athlete)

Scout: 42 (wide receiver)

The buzz: Though he played quarterback in high school, Sims wasn't necessarily expected to continue that in college. He was given the "athlete" tag by most recruiting services after playing a mobile quarterback position in high school.

At Alabama: Starting out, Sims was a running back in Tuscaloosa before transitioning to the quarterback position when injuries thinned the depth chart two years ago. He's the only returning quarterback to throw a pass in an Alabama uniform with a career stat line reading 23-of-39 for 244 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

2011

Phillip Ely

Phillip Ely

Rivals: 20

247 composite: 18

Scout: 44

The buzz: Coming to Alabama without the same credentials as the last few quarterbacks, he was looking to take the Greg McElroy path to playing time.

At Alabama: That didn't happen. Ely redshirted his first season, then completed 3 of 4 passes for 42 yards and a touchdown in 2012.

How it ended: His transfer took him to Toledo where he had to sit in 2013 before competing for the job next season.

2012

Alec Morris

Alec Morris

Rivals: 30

247 composite: 26

Scout: 37

The buzz: Morris was another lightly recruited prospect who originally committed to Wake Forest before signing with Alabama. The 6-3 passer had a reputation for having a strong arm and came to Alabama from football-crazy Allen, Texas.

At Alabama: After redshirting his first season, Morris appeared in the Chattanooga game last fall but didn't throw a pass. He was the first Alabama quarterback since McCarron who didn't enroll early to participate in spring practice.

2013

Cooper Bateman

Cooper Bateman

Rivals: 11

247 composite: 4

Scout: 5

The buzz: The highest ranked quarterback to arrive in Alabama since Phillip Sims came from Utah with big expectations. He enrolled early and was part of the 2013 spring practices.

At Alabama: After redshirting last season, he'll be part of the competition to replace McCarron next season.

Parker McLeod

Parker McLeod

Rivals: Not ranked

247 composite: 39

Scout: 61

The buzz: Alabama hadn't signed two true quarterbacks since Saban arrived, but McLeod was effectively the second member of the class after Bateman.

At Alabama: McLeod spent last fall as a scout team quarterback while redshirting.

2014

David Cornwell

David Cornwell

Rivals: 3

247 composite: 4

Scout: 7

The buzz: A 5-star arm, Cornwell came to Alabama earlier this month as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. He's coming off a knee injury that ended his senior season early.

At Alabama: With his knee healing, Cornwell expects to participate in spring practice this spring.